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2026–2027 Leadership

SPAP Board of Directors

SPAP is led by pediatric PAs, educators, and professional leaders who contribute their clinical experience, time, and perspective in support of the Society and its members.

Executive Leadership

President, President-Elect, and Immediate Past President

President

James Hampson

MSPH, MHPE, PA-C

James is a clinical faculty member at Campbell University, where he teaches in the PA program and supports student development through clinical education, mentorship, and interprofessional initiatives.

He practices part-time in rural pediatric primary care at a federally qualified health center and has a special interest in preceptor support and pediatric clinical training.

A graduate of NC State, he completed Campbell’s dual MSPH/MPAP program and earned a Master of Health Professions Education in 2024. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and four children and enjoys riding motorcycles, playing hockey, and serving at his church.

President-Elect

Stephanie Gonzalez

PA-C

Stephanie has practiced as a PA since 2019. Originally from New York, she earned her MSPAS degree from Long Island University and began her career in adult cardiology at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn.

After relocating to Texas in 2020, she joined the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin. She specializes in caring for critically ill children with congenital heart disease.

Stephanie hopes to increase the visibility of pediatric PA practice, inspire more PAs to consider careers in pediatrics, and expand student outreach and educational opportunities through SPAP.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their two dogs. She is an avid runner and fitness enthusiast who participates in triathlons and founded a workplace 5K club.

Immediate Past President

Julie Klinger

PA-C

Julie graduated from the Baylor College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program in 2015 and has since practiced in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.

Her clinical interests include chemotherapy safety and quality improvement through ENGRAFT, a learning network focused on improving outcomes for patients undergoing stem cell transplant and cellular therapies.

Julie serves as Associate Director of the Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship. She also presents at national conferences and regularly serves as a clinical preceptor, lecturer, and mentor.

Officers

Treasurer and Secretary

Treasurer

Mayra O. Martinez

DSCPAS, MS, MPAS, PA-C

Mayra attended the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she earned a Bachelor of Science with majors in biology and mathematics and a minor in chemistry. She later completed graduate degrees in mathematical sciences and physician assistant studies.

She earned a Doctor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from MCPHS University, where her dissertation focused on pediatric obesity in the Rio Grande Valley.

Mayra has a background in secondary and higher education and has practiced with a focus on rural medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics. She was the first elected President-Elect of the Rio Grande Valley PA Society and is active with TAPA and AAPA.

Secretary

Meredith Alley

MMS, PA-C

Meredith grew up in Texas, attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and completed PA school at Arcadia University near Philadelphia.

She was the first PA in pediatric urology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she practiced for 17 years.

Meredith also served as faculty in the Thomas Jefferson University PA Program for four years. She currently works in the GI Endoscopy Suite at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and enjoys guest lecturing for PA programs.

Board Members

Members at Large

Members at Large contribute clinical, educational, and professional perspectives to the work of the Board.

Member at Large

Jeff Donnelly

MMSc, PA-C, CAQ-PED

Jeff brings 21 years of clinical experience and a strong commitment to advancing pediatric PA practice through advocacy, mentorship, education, and member engagement.

His professional experience includes clinical practice and owning and operating a pediatric office in the Virgin Islands. He also served for two years as Director of Clinical Education at Barry University before the campus was destroyed by Hurricane Maria.

These roles have given Jeff a broad perspective on pediatric patient care, practice management, PA education, and the challenges pediatric PAs encounter in daily practice.

As a Member at Large, he hopes to support SPAP’s continued growth as a respected, inclusive, and effective professional organization while strengthening advocacy, collaboration, and resources for pediatric PAs nationwide.

Member at Large

Kenya Samuels

MPAS, PA-C

Kenya is an Associate Professor in the Physician Assistant Studies Program at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

A 2008 graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Physician Assistant Program, she brings clinical experience in pediatric critical care, pediatric urgent care, and family medicine.

At HSC, she teaches pediatrics and physical examination skills, mentors students, and serves in leadership roles across several committees. She also contributes to the profession through service, research, scholarly presentations, and publications.

Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time with her son and pet.

Member at Large

Charlotte Young

MPAS, PA-C

Charlotte graduated from the University of Colorado Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant Program in 2022.

She practices in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Her growing professional interests include childhood nutrition and feeding therapy.

Charlotte serves on the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta professional development committee, helping provide resources and organize events supporting advanced practice providers.

She is also active with the Georgia Association of PAs and AAPA and enjoys mentoring pre-PA students through these organizations.

Additional Leadership

Student and liaison representatives

These representatives strengthen SPAP’s connection with PA students, the PA profession, and the broader pediatric community.

Student Representative

Kennedy Cross

PA-S2

Kennedy is a PA student at Campbell University with a strong interest in pediatrics and a passion for advancing pediatric care through collaboration and education.

As Student Representative, she hopes to strengthen communication, student involvement, and professional development within SPAP. She is especially interested in supporting content creation and using Canva and emerging technology tools to enhance the Society’s social media presence and newsletters.

Kennedy serves as an active student ambassador at Campbell and held a leadership role coordinating sponsorships for the university’s Make-A-Wish Pickleball Tournament. She also attended the 2026 AAPA Conference in New Orleans, where she connected with members of the SPAP Board.

She brings strong interpersonal, teamwork, and time-management skills to the role and looks forward to helping students become more connected with SPAP and the pediatric PA profession.

AAPA–AAP Liaison

Daniel Wood

PA-C

Daniel brings more than two decades of clinical experience in general pediatrics, pediatric cardiology, and critical care to his role as AAPA–AAP Liaison.

He serves as faculty at UT Health San Antonio, The University of Texas at Austin, and Baylor University, where he helps prepare the next generation of PAs in pediatric assessment and care.

Daniel is also a longstanding leader within SPAP and has served the Society in numerous leadership roles.

A published author and experienced presenter, he is passionate about increasing the visibility of PAs in pediatrics and strengthening collaboration between the PA profession and the broader pediatric community.

Board Service

Leadership through service

SPAP’s Board of Directors provides organizational leadership, supports educational and professional initiatives, and works to strengthen the Society’s service to PAs, students, healthcare teams, and the children and families they care for.

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